Efficient high tower wind generating system

ABSTRACT

A more efficient wind power generation system is afforded by extending tower heights to several hundred meters to operate wind catching rotors and generators aligned with the wind direction at various levels along the tower. With multiple vertically cascaded wind generators and higher velocity winds at higher elevations greater power is produced as a system characterized by a small footprint. This is particularly enhanced by a single mast construction, which is supported by a dynamic guy wire tensioning system to accommodate varying lateral forces primarily caused by the change in direction of wind loads on the tower. The mast is built from modular sections connected together at articulated joints, between which the various rotors are stationed. Thus, the accumulated torques and lateral stresses in the tower are minimized and do not accumulate along the length of the tower thereby to lengthen life expectation and reduce the chances for catastrophic failure in the presence of the higher velocity winds encountered. Also maintenance at such heights necessary where movable parts are present, is enhanced by an internal lift in the mast structure and an uppermost work platform with a rotatable lifting crane.

This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No.07/542,578, filed June 25, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,765 and acontinuation of application Ser. No. 07/735,319 filed Jul. 24, 1991 nowU.S. Pat. No. 5146,096.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to wind generating systems and more particularlyit relates to the construction of tall towers of a height of severalhundred meters, extended into higher velocity wind regions for moreefficient generation of power and tower features making such tall towersfeasible.

BACKGROUND ART

Wind generator systems with associated tower structure are well known inthe art. The status of such prior art is exemplified by a briefdiscussion of the following U.S. Patents.

Various types of wind responsive generators are known. For example, in4,792,700; Dec. 20, 1988 issued to J. L. Ammons, a wind actuated rotoris disposed at the top of a single mast tower supported by guy wires.Such systems are inefficient both as to use of ground space and as tothe utility of the available wind. Particularly at spots whereprevailing winds exist, fields of such units may be disposed, andseparate towers for each rotor limit the number of generators in suchfields, increase the land costs and the tower costs per rotor. In thissystem, the use of a single mast tower is desirable to keep thefootprint small and to keep tower costs down. However, this system isonly operable at relatively modest heights of the rotor and cannotsupport a rotor at such heights that higher velocity winds areavailable, as unaffected by the shear friction with the ground at lowerlevels.

It has been known to cascade vertically on a single tower structureseveral rotors. This is advantageous in producing a smaller footprintper rotor, and in more effectively using available wind. However, itintroduces much greater stresses up the tower, which are difficult todeal with, particularly with a single mast type of tower. Consider thatthe rotors to be effective must catch and resist the wind, therebyproviding great lateral forces at up-tower locations. Since wind towergeneration systems must be able to withstand high velocity gustingwinds, the towers therefore need to be rugged and costly. In particular,consider the problems with a single mast type of tower, wherein lateralbending stresses in steel bracing tends to fatigue the metal. Thus, verycostly and heavy tower structure is necessary to rigidly brace a toweragainst wind loads, and in general such systems could not be made topractically operate in the presence of higher velocity winds availableat greater tower heights, particularly with the added stresses andlateral forces of wind encountering the multiple cascaded rotorgenerator systems spaced along the height of the tower. For example, W.D. Gillette in U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,990, May 9, 1978, departs from asingle mast type tower to accommodate cascaded rotor structures.Similarly, R. Crehore in U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,084, Jan. 15, 1980, uses amultiple masted pyramid arrangement. Nevertheless, neither system couldbe made practically operable at significant heights and require largefootprints, thus increasing costs and decreasing generating fieldefficiency.

As taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,501; Aug. 12, 1980 by W. D. Allison,increased efficiency may be achieved by aligning rotors with the winddirection. That desirable feature is offset therein however by the lowheights and necessity to use multiple supporting towers for disposal ofseveral rotors.

A desirable feature of U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,707; Jan. 16, 1979, M. H.Ewers, is the ability to mount cascaded rotors in modular units atvarious tower heights. However this wind generation system is incapableof operation at any significant height above the ground, and because ofa common vertical drive shaft and associated bearings has no ability toflex in the presence of high wind loads. Thus tower construction must bevery rigid and expensive.

Another desirable prior art feature is outlined in U.S. Pat. No.4,011,694; Mar. 15, 1977, F E. Langford, namely a dynamic guy wiresystem for balancing the lateral forces on a tower. This system is forprotection of individual guy wires to prevent overloading, and thuspermits smaller guy wires to be used or protects from sudden wind gusts,etc. that exceed the capacity of the individual guy wires. However, inthis system a large number of guy wires is necessary to distribute theentire load, and there is no provision for the tower to flex or bend inthe presence of peak loads.

While radio tower prior art exists, it cannot be deemed equivalentstructure because in essence there has not been any problem in dealingwith the lateral forces exerted at various tower heights by windinteraction with rotor-generator units.

In the F. G. F. Brakerbohm U.S. Pat. No. 1,034,760; Aug. 6, 1912, anarticulated radio tower construction uses ball bearings resting on glassplates between each of a series of vertical mast sections individuallyguyed to the ground. The articulation feature is desirable in the mannerlater shown. However, the unequivalent differences between radio antennamasts and the very tall and highly transversely loaded electricgenerator towers of this invention require many different kinds ofproblems to be resolved. Thus, entirely new and functionally differentarticulation means are provided by this invention.

As described in Civil Engineering, July 1959, pp. 35-37 in the article,"Baltimore's Candelabra" by Robert S. Rowe, a tall antenna tower ofabout 200 meters is known in the antenna arts. However, this art couldnot teach those in the wind generating arts how to make an operabletower of greater heights that will bear the lateral wind forces reactingupon a plurality of rotor generators located at various heights alongthe tower. Nor is it feasible to construct towers as described therein,because of the necessity for workers to do so much detailedcraftsmanship in assembling tower elements at great heights above theground. Thus, no tall towers of the prior art are known which canachieve the wind power generator objectives of the present invention.

A further problem not adequately addressed in the prior art is that ofmaintenance of a wind powered generator system. Because of movablerotors, scheduled maintenance, such as for lubrication etc. is requiredin addition to maintenance required by catastrophic failure of any partof the system. Towers, and in particular single mast small footprinttowers are not generally adapted to efficient and effective maintenance.The time of repair is critical also to the continuous generation ofpower, which should be interrupted as little as possible. Thismaintenance problem is amplified with greater tower heights. Considerfor example, the necessity to replace rotor structure or generatorstructure at heights of several hundred meters above the ground. Thisrequires special handling equipment such as cranes, which are notconventionally available for operating at such heights, and which ifprovided would be extremely costly.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to improve thestate of the wind generating art by resolving the foregoing deficienciesof the prior art and producing a more powerful and efficient generationsystem with small footprint adaptable to use in wind generating fieldsat prime locations with limited space, such as in mountain passes, andthe like. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbe found throughout the following description, claims and accompanyingdrawings.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention thus provides a wind generating system arranged with avertically oriented single mast tower carrying a plurality of verticallycascaded rotors for wind powered generators high into the atmosphere toavoid lower wind speeds affected by ground friction shear. The tower hasa series of connected modular mast sections each supporting a residentrotor. Joints between the modular sections are provided witharticulation means consistent with requirements for a wind powergenerating system on the mast, thereby permitting some tilt andindividual section position adjustment in response to lateral forces dueprimarily to wind gusts encountering large area movable rotor surfacesnot found on antenna masts. These joints are combined in articulatedmovement to permit a limited degree of relative angular tilt between twoadjacent modular mast sections. Thus, accumulated stresses from manysections of a very tall tower are isolated to reduce fatigue and chancesfor catastrophic failure. More important, it is feasible thereby to maketall wind generator towers economically that do not require excessivelyheavy bracing.

An accompanying guy wire system is guyed to a disc fastened to the topof each mast section immediately below the flexible coupling supportingthe tower in its vertical posture. A tensioning system permits each guywire to respond dynamically to loading from wind gusts, which incombination with the articulated joint structure provides a stablevertical single mast tower that will support a plurality of cascadedwind rotors and accompanying generator means along a tower height, whichtypically exceeds two hundred meters and may exceed 500 meters.

For power generation efficiencies, the cascaded rotors provide a largegenerating capacity with a small footprint area about the single masttower. For maximizing the effective use of available wind, the rotorsare directionally oriented individually with wind direction differencesalong the tower height which occur when the tower and rotor structureextends far enough off the ground to reach higher velocity winds.Further efficiency is effected by making possible a high tower windgenerating system to us wind speeds not slowed down by the shearfriction forces of the ground and its impediments such as trees,buildings, or even adjacent windmill fields.

The power generation system has features for facilitating maintenance,necessary with rotary machinery and in the event of catastrophic failureof tower mounted equipment such as rotors or accompanying generatorequipment. Thus, a service platform at the top of the tower with a cranefacilitates handling and replacement of rotor assemblies for example,and a lift operable within the hollow single mast with articulated mastsections permits repair personnel attention to lubrication and othermaintenance activities at any position on the tower.

Other features and details will follow throughout the remainingspecification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference characters relate to similar features throughout theseveral views of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view sketch, partly foreshortened, of a tower withaccompanying wind power generation features, as afforded by a preferredembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmental top view, into the tower axis, of a mechanism forpositioning wind catching rotors in alignment with wind direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view sketch of a preferred embodiment of anarticulated joint between adjoining mast section modules afforded by theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental sketch of a motorized turnbuckle arrangement foradjusting tension in guy wires in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 5 is a side view sketch, partly cut away and partly in section, ofa mechanism for aligning each rotor-generator installation with theprevailing wind direction,

FIG. 6 is a side view sketch of the lift cage assembly showing wheelsriding on tower supported tracks,

FIG. 7 is a side view sketch, partly in phantom showing the lift cageassembly, path through an articulation joint provided by this invention,

FIG. 8 is a top view sketch, partly in phantom of the lift cage assemblywheels engaging the lift shaft disposal within the vertically disposedmast sections,

FIG. 9 is a side view sketch, partly in phantom, illustrating theplacement of mast tower sections, primarily assembled on the ground, inplace atop existing tower structure,

FIG. 10 is a top view sketch of a twin jib crane vertically hoisting anew mast section for positioning atop the tower mast, and

FIG. 11 is a detailed fragmented sketch of a track along which acarrying carriage vertically moves.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the single mast of the tower and accompanying wind poweredgenerator system afforded by this invention. The tower has a series ofmodular mast sections 2 coupled together at articulated joints 9,hereinafter discussed in more detail. At least the uppermost mastsections 2 support wind catching rotors or propellers 3 arranged on abase 5 and platform 6 suitably supported by tower bracing and supportstructure 25 in substantially mid-section position so that rotors 3 willnot interfere with guy wires 7 coupled to the intervening joints 9between adjacent sections. Rotary electric power conversion units orgenerators 4 are preferably coupled to each separate rotor set at itssite on the tower for wiring into a power system (not shown) in aconventional manner.

Typically four (or more) guy wires 7 are connected about the tower atthe several vertical elevations between the joints 9 and correspondingground support structure 10. Intervening turnbuckles 11 are seriallyinterspersed in the guy wires for adjustment of tension and length in amanner to be later discussed.

The tower is mounted by suitable base support structure containing somemeans such as mating concave and convex steel plate bearing structure 8on the tower and ground respectively that permits the lowermost towersection to move or deviate a small amount from vertical as required inresponse to lateral dynamic wind induced forces and adjustments in thetension in the lowermost set of guy wires. Note that the guy wires 7 areangled to prevent interference with rotors 3, which may be verticallycascaded closely together along the entire height of the tower, with theexception that the initial ground contact mast section 45 or othersection may be devoid of rotors. The length of modular mast sections donot necessarily need to be nearly that of rotors 3 and may support morethan one rotor assembly.

At each joint 9, articulation means 31 is interposed to similarly permitadjoining tower sections to be relatively moved and adjusted over asmall and confined degree of vertical misalignment in response tolateral forces imposed on the tower structure.

The mast frame is substantially square and hollow along its entirelength to accommodate a lift shaft 34 for transporting maintenanceworkers and materials. The lift cage 35 by means of winch 39 providesaccess to the rotatable maintenance platform 37 at the top of the shaft.It carries the jib crane 38 so that machinery may be raised and loweredto desired positions along the mast. The wind vanes 27, are preferablylocated at different mast heights to determine the direction of the windand aid in the orientation of the rotors 3 in alignment with the winddirection. Other instruments such as wind velocity sensors andinclination sensors to show the angle of departure of any mast sectionfrom vertical are also placed at appropriate positions along the mastfor use in controlling the power generation system and the tower guywire support system.

FIG. 2 shows in more detail the rotor mount stations positionedsubstantially midway in the tower mast sections 2. The rotor generatorunits 4 are coupled to the two rotors 3 on diametrically opposite sidesof the mast. One rotor is contra-rotary to the other, so that the poweroutput from the rotor on the leeward side of the mast is not greatlylessened by the deflection of the air stream by the rotor on thewindward side. The pairs of rotor-generator sets are rotatable to findthe wind direction and mounted on platforms 6 supported by base 5 andbrackets 25 about the tower section 2 bracing, with internal lift cage35 shown in the hollow interior lift shaft 34 centrally oriented withinthe tower section 2 framework.

The ring gear 42 positions the rotor-generator assemblies about the mastas driven by pinion gear 29 by means of reversible electric motor 26with suitable reduction gearing 28 such as a worm gear. The ring gear 42and rotor-generator assemblies 3, 4 may all be affixed to the platform 6for rotation on base 5. The rotors are thus faced directly into the airstream by a mechanism, later described in more detail, for responding toa weather vane (27) to keep the rotors dynamically in position toefficiently use the available wind power as it dynamically shifts indirection.

In FIG. 3, the articulated coupling joint between the two adjacent mastsections 2L and 2T is shown. Pairs of yokes 43, 44 having tapered androunded end structure 30 at the ends of the mast sections 2 arepositioned on different faces of the square mast profile perpendicularto each other, to fit within the steel plate faces 32 of the connectingjoint assembly 31. These faces 32 are welded to both the inside andoutside of the bearing plates 41 which receive and journal the yoke ends30. Thus the yokes may pivotably move a small and confined amountlimited by the angled stops 40 of the bearing plate structure. Theentire block 31 coupling joint is thus a universal coupling jointpermitting a confined degree of relative angular movement between thetwo adjacent mast sections 2. The yokes may be locked in place in theassembly by the bolts 33 passed through the respective yokes at thepivot axis and secured by lock nuts on the opposite sides of therespective facing plates 32.

A motorized turnbuckle arrangement 11 is shown in FIG. 4 for adjustingtension in the individual guy wires 7. The guy wires are preferablypre-stressed high tensile wire anchored at positions on the mastsubstantially midway between the arcs defined by adjacent rotor 3 tips(FIG. 1) (or slightly above to compensate for the angle toward theground). At least four guys 7 are attached to one of the adjoined mastsections 2 at every articulated joint position 9 along the shaft.

The tensioning turnbuckle means 11 is inserted serially in theindividual guy wires 7, such as by means of coupler clamp 13 affixed tothreaded bolt 12 supported in and coupled by the intermediate turnbucklearrangement 11 to two anchor rods 14, which may be part of the groundanchor means 10 (FIG. 1).

A worm wheel 15 threaded at its axial center on bolt 12, is turned byreversible electric motor 17 and an intermediate worm drive gear 16. Theforked base plate 18 carrying the motor 17 slides along rod 19 andstraddles the worm wheel 15 to ensure correct alignment. The worm wheel15 thus can adjust the length of the guy assembly when desirable. Thetension in the guy is determined by one or more strong helical orsemi-elliptic springs 20 seated on a ball or roller thrust race 21 asinterposed between the worm wheel 15 and the end of the gear box.

The gauge 22, by means of lever 23 pivoted about axle 24, senses theactual tension in the guy wire 7 by contact for example with the face ofthe thrust race 21. This tension can be used as a parameter for anautomatic tension and length control system for the guy wires. There mayalso be means for adjusting the tension of spring 20 (not shown) inresponse to a servo system coupled to gauge 22.

In FIG. 5, the mechanism for aligning the rotors 3 to face theprevailing wind is shown, in the manner generally sketched on FIG. 1 bycorresponding arrows 27 and blocks 71. The arrow 27 thus represents aweather vane that aligns with the wind. Thus in a dynamic, swirling orunsettled wind pattern, where the prevailing wind force is not in thesame direction for the different rotors 3 at different heights on thetower, adjustments are made to keep each rotor 3 aligned for bettergenerating efficiency.

In operation, the shaft of generator 4 is driven by the small gear wheelby way of the rotor 3 driven drive gear 47, which is affixed on sleeve46 along with the rotor 3. The sleeve is journalled for rotation aboutsupporting hollow steel axle 48, which is tapered at its outer end andhas a strong flange at the inner end, which in turn is bolted to asupporting fitting extending below the generator mounting platform 6.Affixed near the outer axle 48 end is the spindle stub 49 about which asleeve 50, extending upwardly from the end of the spindle stub 49,rotates along with bevel gear 51.

Two slip rings 52, insulated by adjacent discs are disposed under thecommutator segments 53 on diametrically opposed sides separated byinsulating strip 54. The commutator disc and slip rings turn with sleeve50 and are insulated therefrom. The slip rings 52 are electricallyconnected respectively to the commutator segments 53. The spindle 55 ofweather vane 27 is rotatably nested in spindle 50, and carries sliprings 56 insulated from the spindle 55. The spring loaded brushes 57extending from the slip rings 56 contact the commutator segments 53 orintermediate insulating strips 54 between them. Four horizontal springloaded brushes on insulator bracket 58 affixed to the end of axle 48 tocarry the output from slip rings 52, 56 by four wire cable to actuatethe rotor alignment mechanism.

Rotatable sleeve 61 inside axle 48 carries pinion gear 60 meshing withbevel gear 51 at its outer end and spur gear wheel 62 at its inner end.Shaft 64 is rotatably carried by the bracket under platform 6. Rollers64A, rotatably held by spindles in brackets welded underside platform 6contact and roll on the surface of support platform 5 as the winddirection changes and thus carry the weight of platform 6. On the innerend of shaft 64 is affixed gear wheel 65, which meshes with ring gear 66encircling the mast and bolted to mast frame 2 and brackets 25.

The four wire conductor from slip rings 52, 56 passes through tube 67inside sleeve 61 and on the underside of platform 6 to connect with sliprings disposed vertically on a circular bracket 68 surrounding the mastand attached to frame 6 for contact with brushes 69, 70 verticallydisposed on an insulating bracket affixed to the mast for conveyingpower by brushes 69 to the reversible motor 26. Motor 26 via bevel gear29 and ring gear 42 is aligned with the wind direction.

When the wind is steady, the two brushes 57 rest on the insulating strip54 of the commutator disc. However, when the weather vane 27 bringsbrushes 57 over the conductor segments 53, the motor 26 is energized toturn the platform 6 in the direction indicated by the weather vane 27.The movement of platform 6 through gear train 65-66, 63-62, 60-51 turnsthe commutator disc through the same degree of rotation and in the samedirection as the motor 26 turns the platform 6 to bring the theinsulating strip 54 under the two brushes 57 and disconnecting the motorfrom the power source until another wind change occurs. Wind changes inthe opposite direction serve to reverse the commutator segments 53 andchange the direction of rotation of motor 26. The housing 71 protectsthe elements from the weather.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show the manner in which lift cage 35, suspended bycable 80, passes through the articulated joints 72 (9, FIG. 1) on mast 2between adjacent mast sections with the help of spring loaded rollers73.

Lift shaft sections 34 are of the same length as the mast sections 2,and the same pivot pins 33 are common to both. Spacer sleeves 75 placedon the pivot pin between reinforcing plates 32 (FIG. 3) of the mastcoupling and similar plates 76 of the lift shaft coupling keep the liftshaft centered exactly within the mast sections.

The four corners 34C of the lift shaft section 34 are made of angle ironwhich serve as rails for the spring loaded rollers 73 at opposite endsof the lift cage 35, which protrude through slots in the lift cage wallsfor keeping the lift cage walls always clear of the lift shaft walls.The ends of the forked frames 74 which carry the rollers 73, slide inguides 74A attached to the lift cage walls to keep the rollers properlyaligned. Helical springs 77 exerting pressure on the roller frames 74,are anchored at their inner ends to angle iron brackets 78 bolted to thelift cage walls. Metal rods 79, sliding through holes in the brackets 78and springs 77, are screwed into tapped holes in the middle of theroller frames 74 to further stabilize the roller assemblies. The liftcage doorway 81 is in the middle of one of the lift cage 35 walls.

In FIG. 7, the lift cage 35 is approaching the lift shaft coupling 72located centrally inside the mast coupling 31, with the rollers 73 beingof sufficient diameter to smoothly accommodate any irregularities thatmight occur where the ends of the lift shaft meet the coupling at thecoupling joints.

FIG. 9 shows the method of erecting the upper mast sections after theground supported section is in place. Each section of the mast 2 isassembled on the ground including the inner lift cage sections 34 andguy wires connected to platforms 36. The last installed section, whichis the ground contact section in FIG. 9, is securely guyed in place. Thetoothed rack 83 is also assembled on the ground before raising section 2in place by the crane 92. Brackets 84 extend the toothed rack 83 outwardenough so that the rack clears the fittings at the top of each mastsection to which the guy wires are attached.

As also shown in FIG. 10, the crane 92 by means of twin jibs 91 ismounted on a long vertical extension 90 to the frame of a carriage 85,which traverses the rack 83 teeth by means of a toothed pinion 89 driventhrough suitable gearing by reversible electric motor 88. The Carriagechannel iron bar end members 86, perpendicular to the mast 2, extendinwardly to the clips 87 of FIG. 11 to grip and slide along the base ofthe rack 83 holding the carriage parallel to the mast 2 and verticallymobile.

Before the mast section 2 is lifted into position, the carriage 85 istraversed, as shown in FIG. 9 to the top of the mast sections already inplace, where four reinforcing brackets are used to bolt the carriage inplace to the channel bars 86 on one side of the mast. This assures thatthe load being lifted is supported by the mast frame and does notoverload the rack and pinion.

Then the mast section 2 is lifted in place by attachment from jibs 91 ofthe cable to each side of the section at a position slightly above themidheight of that section so that it remains vertical during the lift.The section 2, as shown in phantom, thus is aligned vertically with thelower mast section(s) in place to align the coupling members and insertthe pivot bolts (33, FIG. 7) in place. The guy wires are than made fastto in place anchors (10, FIG. 1).

Now brackets 82 may be removed from both the mast and the channel irons86 on the carriage, for traverse to the top of the latest positionedsection of the mast to accommodate the same procedure for installinganother mast section 2. After all the mast sections are in place andsecured, the crane 92 is used to lift and position the lift cage winch,and later to lift and position the mast top crane 38 (FIG. 1) on itsrotatable platform 37. Then the crane 92 and carriage may be dismantledand lowered to ground by the mast top crane 38 for use in erection ofother such masts. The fixed bases 5, rotatable platforms 6, rotors 3,generators 4 and ancillary gear are all then lifted into place by themast top crane 38.

It is therefore evident that this invention advances the state of theart with an efficient and operationally feasible wind powered generatorsystem for more effectively using available wind power in smallfootprint installations.

Accordingly those novel features indicative of the spirit and nature ofthe invention are set forth with particularity in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A high altitude electric power generating system comprisingin combination, a single column tower of significant height divided intoa plurality of mast sections articulated at joints between the sectionsof the mast along its height, said mast being constructed to bearsignificant vertical and lateral weight loads contributed by saidgenerating system distributed along the height of the mast, a pluralityof vertically disposed rotor driven electric generators mounted ondifferent ones of said articulated mast sections at different mastheights, and means comprising guy wire means coupled in the vicinity ofthe joints to tensioning means for maintaining the tower verticallywhile dynamically tilting individual ones of said articulated mastsections independently over a narrow angle from vertical in response tolateral wind induced forces on said rotor driven generators.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising mast sections and articulationjoints constructed of a hollow internal passageway, and lift meansvertically movable in said passageway to pass through the articulationjoints.
 3. For a high altitude electric power generating tower systemfor disposing a vertical array of rotor driven generators, theimprovement comprising a single column tower having at least one mastsection in place supported by guy wires with a platform on top ready forreceiving a further mast section, a toothed rack mounted one side ofeach mast section, a vertically movable carriage supporting a cranevertically movably supported on said toothed rack of a mast section inplace in a position above the top platform of the highest previouslylocated mast section to pick up and transport it vertically in aposition substantially parallel to the mast section in place a furthermast section for affixing to the platform atop the previously locatedsection, wherein said crane further comprises twin jibs extending onopposite sides of said tower and winch means for engaging said furthermast section on the ground on diametrically opposite sides to lift thefurther mast section and set it on the platform atop the previouslypositioned and guyed mast section.
 4. A high altitude wind generatingsystem with wind powered electric generators comprising in combination:avertically oriented generator support single mast tower having a seriesof interconnected modular mast sections along a vertical heightconnected by joints, said tower carrying a plurality of wind poweredgenerators with accompanying rotors positioned at a multiplicity ofvertical levels between the joints of said interconnected modular mastsections, a guy wire system for supporting the tower against lateralforces at a multiplicity of vertical levels from positions on the towerbetween the rotors, guy wire tensioning means comprising a worm gearmechanism coupled in the guy wires for dynamically adjusting guy wiretension in response to wind forces at the respective vertical levels tomaintain the tower vertical, and articulation means connected to definesaid joints between adjoining modular mast sections permitting theindividual mast sections to be relatively angularly moved a few degreesfrom vertical in response to lateral forces on the tower.
 5. The systemof claim 4 wherein the articulation means comprise universal jointstructure.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the universal jointstructure comprises means for holding the adjacent mast sections invertical directional alignment with each other.
 7. The system of claim 4further comprising a maintenance platform supported by the tower at aposition above the wind generators with a rotatably positionable cranefor use in servicing the wind generators.
 8. The system of claim 4wherein each of the rotors located at the different vertical levelsinclude an accompanying mechanism for orienting the rotors in alignmentwith wind direction for maximizing energy efficiency.
 9. The systemdefined in claim 4 wherein the mast sections define a hollow mast framewith a square and hollow lift shaft passageway through substantially thelength of the tower and its articulation joints, and a lift cage andwinch for moving the lift cage vertically along the tower within thepassageway and through the articulation joints for maintenance purposes.10. The system of claim 4 wherein the tower comprises a network ofbracing members arranged on four sides of a substantially square crosssection configuration.